Vent de Gregal

Mallorca’s best-quality extra virgin olive oils have the Denomination of Origin Oli de Mallorca and every year the regulatory council of the DO chooses a mixologist on the island to create an exclusive cocktail, with olive oil as an ingredient.

This year the honour fell to Andreu Genestar, the charming mixologist at Gremium – the cocktail bar at Es Princep hotel in Palma de Mallorca. Oli de Mallorca invited me to the launch of the new cocktail – an event held in the new bar. Just a week after we’d stayed overnight in the hotel, I was unexpectedly back for a few hours, with other members of the local media and invited guests, to taste the cocktail.

Andreu named his creation Vent de Gregal (this northeast wind is characteristic of the Balearics) and blends Mallorcan extra virgin olive oil with local ingredients, including orange and lemon juices from Sóller and honey. It was surprisingly delicious and, if you’re in this area of Palma, I can recommend a visit to try this well-balanced cocktail now on offer at Gremium.

Andreu Genestar prepares his Vent de Gregal cocktail

Left, Sebastian Solivellas (president of the DO Oli de Mallorca) standing alongside Andreu Genestar. Second from right is Michelin-star-restaurant chef Andreu Genestra, responsible for Bala Roja restaurant at Es Princep

A top-quality cocktail ingredient

Olive oil meringue canapes

A winning oil

On the subject of Mallorca’s choice of delicious extra virgin olive oils, Es Roquissar – produced on the Son Moragues estate in Valldemossa – recently won a silver award at the prestigious New York International Olive Oil Competition. The organic oil is made with the Mallorcan olive variety known as empeltre, which grow in the highest parts of the Serra de Tramuntana estate. This  year’s competition featured 905 oils from 27 countries.

Jan Edwards ©2018